Martin Luther King Jr.’s Autographed Book Hits Market for $35,000

Martin Luther King Jr.'s book he signed to a nurse who saved his life following an assassination attempt is now up for sale.

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Martin Luther King Jr.'s Autographed Book Hits Market for $35,000
Getty / Moments in Time

Civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.’s signed book is now available for purchase at $35,000. The autographed copy of his book, “Stride Toward Freedom,” carries a heartfelt inscription to Gwen Brown, the nurse who played a pivotal role in saving King’s life after an assassination attempt in 1958.

At the time of the incident, King was attending a book signing at Blumstein’s Department Store in Harlem when he was attacked by Izola Ware Curry, who stabbed him in the chest with a steel letter opener. 

The wound, dangerously close to King’s aorta, could have been fatal with the slightest movement. However, with the dedicated care of nurse Gwen Brown at Harlem Hospital, King made a remarkable recovery.

Moments In Time, a collector’s haven, is offering this piece of history to enthusiasts and collectors alike. The autographed book, adorned with King’s iconic signature, is accompanied by a personalized note to Gwen Brown. The inscription, written in cursive, reads,

“With best wishes and genuine appreciation for the attention you gave me as one of my nurses while I recuperated at Harlem Hospital.”

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